IMPORTATION OF MOTORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16796, 12 March 1918, Page 6

IMPORTATION OF MOTORS.

RECENT STATEMENT DENIED.

TRADERS' VIEW OF POSITION.

The agitation against the importation of motor-cars, which has been given publicity recently, formed tho subject of discussion at a meeting of the Auckland Motor Traders' Association, held at Mr. Q. Henning's office yesterday. The president, Mr. George Henci*g, presided. The chairman, referring to the statement by the president of the Chamber of Commerce that 1000 cars had arrived in a recent shipment from New York, said that only 43 cars had been landed for Auckland, and about 60 for Southern points, the remainder of tho cars' on the vessel being for Australia. Of the Auckland shipment six or eight were motor-tractors, and six were motor-trucks, the bulk of the remainder being cheap cars, He also stated that 80 per cent, of the cars sold in Auckland were bought by farmers, who used them in much the same way as the very essential farm buggy was used formerly. It was stated that the use of motor-cars could no longer be looked upon as a luxury, as they now replaced the buggy formerly used by the commercial traveller, while dairy factories, city businesses, and even the Government, were using cars and motor-vans, The meeting was unanimously of the opinion that fully 95 per cent, of the cars in use in the Auckland district were commercial or utility cars, and as such were essential to their users. It was resolved to protest against the misleading statements made by Mr. Robert Burns, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, regarding the importation of motor-cars, and to point out that at least 95 per cent, of the cars used are for commercial or utility purposed. It was also decided to call attention to the fact that the vessel in question did not carry anything approaching 1000 cars, and even so, the majority of those carried were for Australia, and not for New Zealand. In support, of 'this protest summaries of the cars for Australia and New Zealand were attached to the resolution. The Australian summary showed that of the cars in use 5 per cent, were pleasure ears, 10 per cent, business and pleasure cars, and 85 per cent business cars. The figures with regard to New Zealand were 80 per cent, business, 15 per cent, business and pleasure, and 5 per cent, pleasure. A sub-committee, consisting of the chairman and Messrs. P. Skeates, T. A. Lowe, and F. Carman, was set up for the purpose of placing the position of the motor trade before tho Prime Minister.